Mission in Djibouti, March 28th – April 2nd 2009Practical Training on Analysis of Basic Seawater Characteristics; Human Capacity Building for Implementation of Djibouti National Monitoring Program

IntroductionPERSGA has started efforts with the member states to establish their national monitoring programs in support of a regional monitoring program in 2004. All member states received equipment and training that would enable them implement their basic national monitoring programs. Some member states such as Egypt and Jordan have successfully established their national monitoring programs and provided data to PERSGA since 2004 regularly. Some other countries are still making efforts to initiate their national monitoring programs. Djibouti has expressed its keenness to establish its national monitoring program but needed some further support in capacity building. In 2007 a technical mission from PERSGA visited Djibouti and met with the Focal Point and the different stakeholders who all expressed their support to the national monitoring program. Distinguished support was offered by the Djiboutian Maritime Force, who expressed their willingness to help in collecting the samples. The first sampling mission was carried out jointly by technical experts from PERSGA and specialists from Djibouti in April 2008. Sampling stations (Figure 1) were finalized by discussion with the Djiboutian officials, particularly the Focal Point, Ministry of Environment. During the April 2008 mission Djiboutian specialists were trained on collecting ad processing the samples up to the pre-analysis stage. In December 2008 the specialists of Djibouti mainly from CERD were capable of collecting and processing samples independently. After the successful collection of samples in December 2008, two sets of samples have accumulated awaiting analysis.

The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the
Environment in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

Contents of this website may be reproduced for
educational or non-profit purposes, provided that acknowledgment of
PERSGA is given